• Registrar: Brett Irick xr7gt@cougarclub.org

1967 & 1968 6.5 Litre

The 1967 and 1968 Cougar 6.5 Litre started as either a base model or XR-7, then has the "6.5 Litre Engine Option" added.

The 6.5 Litre Engine Option included the following advertised items:

• 67: 320 hp (325 hp in 68) Marauder 390 GT V-8 Engine (6.5 litre) with 600 CFM Holley Model 4150 Carburetor and 10.5:1 compression ratio. Includes chrome Dress-Up kit:  Air Filter Cover, Engine Valve Covers, Oil Fill Cover/Crank Case Breather, Engine oil Dipstick Handle, and Autolite 13 pound Radiator Cap -OR- the 280 hp 390-2V "X code" Engine in 68 with Autolite 2-barrel Carburetor.
• Low restriction Air Filter
• 67: Normal restriction dual exhaust with acoustically tuned Mufflers. Oval resonators (not round as in GT option) were mounted in intermediate Pipes with transverse Muffler behind rear axle. Exhaust outlets "standard" - no chrome tips, etc.
• 68: Low restriction dual exhaust system. Intermediate Pipes with Mufflers followed by outlet Pipes over axle and then directly to rear Valance Panel. Transverse Muffler behind rear axle used on 1967 390 engine was deleted for 1968. Exhaust outlets "standard" - no chrome tips, etc. Two inch diameter Pipes throughout system on 390 Engine models.
• Power booster (clutch) Fan.
• "6.5 Litre" ornaments on front Fender sides.

1968 6.5 Litre Badge

Required and Optional Equipment

• The 6.5 Litre Engine Option required an optional transmission - heavy duty 3-speed manual ($79.00), 4-speed manual $184.02, or C-6 (heavy duty) 3-speed automatic transmission ($215.99).
• A 9-inch ring gear, removable differential carrier, rear axle design was used on the 6.5 litre Engine option.
• The 6.5 Litre Engine Option could be ordered with any option available on the standard Cougar except for the GT Performance Group Option that included this Engine.

The 6.5 Litre Engine Option also included the following, non-advertised items:

• Rubber Seal stapled to top of Radiator Support. Sealed-off air flow between top of Radiator Support and hood for improved Engine cooling.
• Battery "L" shaped Heat Shield and Fan Shroud added, when air conditioning option selected.

Owned by Phil Parcells

1967 & 1968 GT

The 1967 & 1968 Cougar GT started as either a base model or XR-7, then has the "GT Performance Group Option" added.

GT Performance Group Option included the following advertised items:

• 67: 320 hp / 68: 325 hp Marauder 390 GT V-8 Engine (6.5 litre) with 600 CFM Holley Model 4150 Carburetor and 10.5:1 compression ratio. Includes chrome Dress-Up kit - Air Filter Cover, Engine Valve Covers, oil fill cover/crank case breather, Engine Oil Dipstick handle, and Autolite 13 pound Radiator Cap
• In 1968: the 428 CJ "Cobra Jet" Engine as an extra cost upgrade. Includes chrome Dress-Up kit and appropriate Ram Air Intake. See R-code & GTE sections for more details. Engine code in VIN is R (8F91R, or 8F93R). R-code engines are an unusual option in a 1968 GT.
• Low restriction Air Filter.
• 67: Low restriction dual exhaust with acoustically tuned Mufflers. Two 3 1/2 inch diameter by approx. 20 inch long resonators in intermediate Pipes with transverse Muffler behind rear axle. Intermediate Pipes forward of resonators are three inches longer than Mustang 390 GT Pipes due to Cougar longer wheel base.
• 68: Low restriction dual exhaust system. Intermediate Pipes with Mufflers followed by outlet Pipes over axle and then directly to rear Valance Panel. Transverse Muffler behind rear axle used on 1967 GT was deleted for 1968. Exhaust outlets are "standard" - no chrome tips, etc. Two inch diameter Pipes throughout system on 390 GT Engine models.
• Power booster (clutch) Fan.
• Power front Disc Brakes. 1967 Cougar uses 4-piston fixed (non-floating) caliper design. 1968 Cougar uses single piston fixed (floating) caliper design.
• (Firestone) Wide-Oval nylon-cord F70- 14 Red (late 67 model year option) or White side wall Tires.
• Special (Black painted steel) Wheels with 6 inch wide rims. 67 Styled Steel Wheel option had 5 1/2 inch wide rims, 68 Style Steel wheels had 6 inch wide rims since 5 1/2 inch wide Wheels will not fit over 1968 front Disc Brake Caliper.
• Performance handling package: including stiffer front and Rear Springs, heavy duty Shock Absorbers, large diameter (0.84 inch diameter versus 0.72 inch diameter standard) front suspension Stabilizer Bar and faster manual steering (20.3:1 ratio versus standard 25.3:1 ratio). Fast 20.3:1 steering is standard with Power Steering option. 20.3 ratio steering is approx. 3.6 turns lock to lock versus 4.5 turns on 25.3:1 ratio.
• GT ornaments or letters on fender sides: GT rectangle badge was used on 67 GT's until somewhere between production dates 22L (11/22/66) and 28A (1/28/67)

  

  
  And individual GT letters used late model year 1967 and all of 1968. Similar 2-piece    GT letters reappeared in 1971 and 1972.

  

  
  

Required and Optional Equipment:

• The GT Performance Group Option required an optional transmission: heavy duty 3-speed manual, 4-speed manual, or C-6 (heavy duty) 3-speed automatic transmission.
• A 9-inch ring gear removable differential carrier rear axle design was used on the GT option.
• The GT could be ordered with any option available on the standard Cougar except for the 320 hp 390 GT V8 Engine (6.5 Litre fender badges), performance handling package, front Disc Brakes, or Wide Oval F70- 14 Tires as stand alone options. These options were included in the GT Performance Group. Also, Wire Wheel Covers were unavailable on GTs (and Wide Oval Tire option vehicles) sold in the State of Pennsylvania.

The GT Performance Group Option also included the following non-advertised items:

• Rubber seal stapled to top of Radiator Support. Sealed off air flow between top of Radiator Support and hood for improved Engine cooling.
• Battery "L" shaped Heat Shield and Fan Shroud added, when air conditioning option selected.
• Rear Brake Proportioning Valve mounted in rear Brake line before rear Axle Brake Hose part of Disc Brake option (67 only).

Unknown Owner

1971 and 1972 GT

The 1971 and 1972 Cougar GT started as a standard model then has the "GT Option" added. The GT option in 71 and 72 was a "middle ground" between the standard model and the XR-7. The GT Option was available for all Engines, including the standard 351-2V, 3-speed.

GT Option included the following advertised items:

• Color-keyed Hood Scoop. Hood Scoop functional on 1971 429-4V CJ (J Code) option.
• Bright Wheel Trim Rings in addition to standard Hub Caps unless "deluxe", full Wheel Cover option selected.
• Dual color-keyed Racing Mirrors. Left hand remote control adjust, right hand manual adjust.
• Instrument panel finish and Steering Column all Black.
• Deluxe 3-spoke rim-blow, Black Steering Wheel.
• Tachometer.
• Competition handling package. Included heavy duty front and rear Springs and Shock absorbers and a larger diameter, front Stabilizer Bar. Rear Stabilizer Bar added when 351-4V and 429-4V CJ Engines ordered.
• Tire upgrade from E78x 14 Black Wall to E78x 14 White Wall.
• Performance cooling package with larger Radiator on 1971 models.
• More performance oriented "standard" Axle ratio than standard model on most Engine/Transmission combinations.
• GT letters on Fender sides. Note: GT 1967/1968 letters used beneath and to the right of "Cougar" script ornament.

Note: Staggered Rear Shocks (with optional Engines only) were not unique to the GT package. These were on all Cougars ordered with an optional Engine.

Note: No XR-7 GTs were produced in these years

Note: The GT option was not available on Convertibles.

Note: In 1971 the 429CJ Engine package includes the Competition Suspension, and requires Power Disc Brakes, with F70x14 Tires with 7-inch Wheels.

Note: The 351-4V or the 429CJ were available with either the 3-speed Select shift automatic, or a 4-speed, fully-synchronized manual transmission with Hurst Shifter.

Note: The 429CJ uses a Rochester Quadra-Jet Carburetor.